Ex-White House hopeful Ben Carson had a message for President Obama on Friday in the wake of shootings in Dallas that killed five police officers: Don’t “get political.”
Speaking to reporters early Friday morning in Poland, Obama described the shootings as a “wrenching reminder of the sacrifices” law enforcement officers make to keep Americans safe. He added, however, that “when people are armed with powerful weapons, unfortunately it makes it more deadly and more tragic, and in the days ahead we are going to have to consider those realities as well.”
“Now is definitely not the time to get political,” Carson told Fox News when asked to respond to the president’s remarks.
“Now is the time to use logic and ask ourselves, why do we have a Constitution? Why do we have a Second Amendment? They’re always saying you don’t need a high powered weapon to hunt deer. The Constitution is not about deer hunting. It’s about people being able to defend themselves from an overly aggressive government or an external invasion,” he said.
The retired neurosurgeon, who’s been a loyal supporter of Donald Trump since exiting the 2016 race, encouraged Americans to “imagine 24 or 48 hours with no police” before they rush to judgment.
“Yes, there are some bad apples and, yes, we will find ways to deal with them,” Carson said. “But in no way do we indict the entire police force.
“There are bad apples in the police force like there are bad apples in everything. There are bad surgeons,” he said. “But the vast majority of surgeons are wonderful people. So, you know, these opportunities will continue to happen and they will continue to do these things.
“But I guess the real issue is, you know, the president’s going to start saying, see, gun control,” Carson added.
